Hockey goalie training aid

ABSTRACT

A hockey goalie-training device for teaching the goalie to keep his arms from moving behind or away from his body is provided. A harness having an arm-restricting bar is attached to a belt worn around the chest of the goalie. The height of the belt around the chest of the goalie is maintained by adjustable shoulder straps, which are quickly and easily attached over the shoulders of the goalie. The device teaches the goalie to keep his hands and arms positioned such that shots cannot be completed by passing a puck between his body and his arms to score a goal. The device also trains the goalie to keep his hands positioned properly on certain movements and saves such that shots cannot pass easily by the goalie, due to proper hand position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1 . Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to a device for training hockey goalies and more particularly to training hockey goalies to keep their arms and hands in the proper position with respect to their bodies to prevent hockey pucks from passing between their bodies and their arms. This is particularly important for various types of moves by goalies to prevent a puck from entering the net.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] There are many sports training devices for golf, weight lifting and other sports in which the training aid limits or otherwise guides arm movements to improve performance in the sport. However there is no device available for training hockey goalies to keep their arms and hands properly positioned with respect to their bodies to prevent hockey pucks from passing by the goalies body, due to poor, incorrect or improper arm and hand positions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] A harness is used to support a curved bar in front of a hockey goalies' chest. The curved bar has a chest portion in front of the goalies' chest supported by the harness. The bar also has a curved portion for contacting the goalies' arms above the elbow. The bar is curved backward from the chest to allow room for the arms and then forward forming cups on either side of the goalie to limit the range of backward and lateral arm movement. The bar ensures that as the goalie moves around the goal crease area, the goalies' arms are always maintained in the proper position such that the arms and body move as a unit to eliminate openings through which the hockey puck can pass. The harness has a belt like torso surrounding portion with a buckle to secure the torso of the goalie in the belt and support the bar above the goalies' elbows. The harness also has shoulder straps to prevent the belt like torso surrounding portion from slipping downward on the goalie. The shoulder straps have adjustable lengths and have attachment devices such as releasable clips.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is an object of the invention to position an arm-limiting bar at the chest level of a goalie to limit arm movement behind and away from the torso.

[0007] It is an object of the invention to train a goalie not to move his arms behind and away from his body.

[0008] It is an object of the invention to train a goalie to have his entire body move as one unit.

[0009] It is an object of the invention to provide a lightweight, easy to wear, easy to put on and easy to take off training device for hockey goalies.

[0010] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0011]FIG. 1 is a rear prospective view of the hockey goalie-training device.

[0012]FIG. 2 is a front prospective view of the hockey goalie-training device.

[0013]FIG. 3 is a top view of the bar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014]FIG. 1 shows a rear perspective view of the hockey goalie training device 10. The hockey goalie training device 10 has a belt portion 12 for encircling the chest or upper torso portion of the goalie such that the bar portion 30 will engage the arms of the goalie above the elbows. The belt portion 12 has a belt buckle 18 attached to the belt portion 12 on one end and a series of apertures 28 in the belt portion on the opposite end of the belt portion such that at least one tongue 20 on the buckle portion 18 will fit through at least one of the apertures 28 and secure the belt at a desired circumference to fit the user. As shown the hockey goalie training device 10 has a pair of tongues 20 to fit into one of a series of pairs of apertures 28 to adjust the belt. Although a pair of tongues for engaging a pair of apertures is shown on the belt any number of tongues and apertures may be used.

[0015] As is common in belt design, the embodiment shown has a belt loop 24 near the buckle 18 to secure the opposite end of the belt after it is engaged by the buckle 18. The belt loop 24 is secured in place by being between two portions of stitching 24 holding the belt portion together. A second belt loop 26 which can freely slide on the belt to adjust its position also secures the free end of the belt.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment a buckle protective strap 22 is sewn onto the belt buckle end of the belt to protect the goalie from contact with the belt buckle 18.

[0017] As can readily be understood the position of the belt portion 12 on the user may shift downward during use without some means of support to keep the belt portion 12 above the elbows of the user such that the bar 30 will be of use in training the hockey goalie to keep his arms from moving backward and or away from his body. In order to keep the belt portion in place a pair of shoulder straps 14 are employed extending from the front portion of the belt over the shoulders of the user to the rear portion of the belt. In the embodiment shown a belt connector portion 50 is fixed to the back of the belt portion 12 to permanently connect the strap 14 to the belt portion 12 in a fixed position. The belt connector portion 50 may have a female clip connector 44 for engaging a male clip connector 42 to quickly and easily attach the shoulder strap 14 when placed over the shoulder of the user. Although the clip connectors 42 are shown in this embodiment adjacent the back of the belt portion 12 the clip connectors 42 may be along any portion of the shoulder strap 14.

[0018] The shoulder strap 14 also has a strap length loop adjustment buckle 40 as are commonly used to adjust the length of straps. The shoulder strap 14 can in this manner be quickly and easily adjusted to the right length to fit the user. The shoulder strap 14 is attached to the belt portion 12 in the front by a loop 46, which slides over the belt portion and readily adjusts to a comfortable position. Although in the embodiment shown the shoulder straps 14 are connected to the belt portion 12 with a fixed end and an adjustable end any means of connecting the shoulder straps 14 to the belt portion 12 may be used.

[0019] Although as shown the shoulder straps 14 cross between the front and back portions of the belt portion 12, preferably over the back of the user, any arrangement of the shoulder traps 14 to securely retain the belt portion 12 at a desired height on the user may be deployed, including a parallel non crossing shoulder straps 14 with a strap connecting the shoulder straps 14.

[0020] As shown the belt portion 12 has a length of belt, which is doubled over to engage the belt buckle 18. The doubled over belt portion is stitched and riveted by rivets 27 to secure the belt buckle 18 and the belt loop 24 in place.

[0021] The front of the belt portion 12 has a bar holding strip 35 sewn by stitches 25 to the belt portion 12 and surrounds the bar 30 holding it in place. The bar 30 can have apertures 33 therethrough such that rivets 34 through the apertures 33 on the bar portion and apertures in the belt portion 12 hold the bar portion 30 from rotational motion and lateral motion in the bar holding strip 35.

[0022] The bar 30 has a chest arch portion 38 for engaging the chest of the user and a curved arm cupping portion 36 for keeping the arms of the user in front of and adjacent the body of the user. The bar 30 also has a lateral arm movement limiting portion 37 on either end for ensuring limited lateral movement of the goalies arms such that he will keep his arms adjacent to his body and thereby prevent a scoring shot from passing between the goalies arms and his body. The bar teaches the goalie move his body with his arms in a fixed position such that he pivots with his arms and body as a unit to block shots.

[0023] The bar 30 is preferably made of a round steel tubing such that it is lightweight and strong. The bar 30 also preferably has protective caps 60 on the ends to prevent injury to players if they come in contact therewith. The protective caps can be plastic, rubber, or any other material for covering the ends of the bar 30, such that players will not be impaled or otherwise injured by the ends of the bar 30. The protective caps 60 preferably have a larger cross section for coming in contact with players to lessen the impact per square inch and made of or having a softer impact absorbing material portion.

[0024] Many modifications of the hockey goalie-training device are possible including moving the buckle 18 from the back of the device to the front or the sides of the device. The hockey goalie-training device is shown with a buckle, tongue and aperture structure for securing the belt portion at various diameters however any means for securing the belt portion at various diameters may be employed.

[0025] The hockey goalie training device belt portion is preferably made out of leather but any material offering the strength, stiffness and durability of leather may be used.

[0026] Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A hockey goalie training device comprising: a belt portion to be secured around a goalies' torso, at least one shoulder strap for securing the belt portion at a specified vertical position on the torso of the goalie, an arm motion limiting bar attached to the belt portion for preventing the goalies arms from moving behind and away from the torso of the goalie.
 2. A hockey goalie training device as in claim 1 wherein the arm limiting bar has a chest arch for adapting it to use with the front of the belt portion across the goalies' chest and an arm cupping curved portion to limit the movement of the goalies' arms.
 3. A hockey goalie training device as in claim 4 wherein the at least one shoulder strap has a fixed end securing the at least one shoulder strap to the belt portion and an adjustable end.
 4. A hockey goalie training device as in claim 1 wherein the at least one shoulder strap has a clip on attachment for attaching and removing the at least one shoulder strap on the goalie.
 5. A hockey goalie training device as in claim 1 wherein the at least one shoulder strap has an adjustment to the length such that the goalie training device will properly fit the goalie.
 6. A hockey goalie training device as in claim 1 wherein the belt portion has at least one aperture in one end of the belt portion and a buckle and at least one tongue on the opposite end of the belt portion for securing the belt to the goalie by engagement of a tongue through one of said apertures.
 7. A hockey goalie training device as in claim 2 wherein the at least one shoulder strap has a fixed end securing the at least one shoulder strap to the belt portion and an adjustable end.
 8. A hockey goalie training device as in claim 7 wherein the at least one shoulder strap has a clip on attachment for attaching and removing the shoulder straps on the goalie.
 9. A hockey goalie training device as in claim 8 wherein the shoulder straps are adjustable in length to fit the goalie.
 10. A hockey goalie training device as in claim 9 wherein the belt portion has at least one aperture in one end of the belt portion and a buckle and at least one tongue on the opposite end of the belt portion for securing the belt to the goalie by engagement of a tongue through one of said apertures.
 11. A hockey goalie training device as in claim 2 wherein, the arm limiting bar has at least one aperture, the belt portion has at least one aperture, and a rivet extends through the belt portion aperture and the bar aperture, fixing the bar such that it does not rotate or move laterally relative to the belt portion.
 12. A hockey goalie training device as in claim 11 wherein the arm limiting bar has a protective cap attached at the end for protecting players coming in contact with the ends of the bar.
 13. A hockey goalie training device as in claim 2 wherein the arm limiting bar has a protective cap attached at the end for protecting players coming in contact with the ends of the bar. 